diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index 9d3bd17e94..a3c534365a 100644
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -5483,6 +5483,13 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
         self._slash_confirm_state = None
         self._slash_confirm_deadline = 0
         self._model_picker_state = None
+        # Rotating task-oriented composer placeholder (C-09), chosen once per
+        # session so it stays stable while the empty input box is on screen.
+        try:
+            from hermes_cli.tips import get_random_composer_placeholder
+            self._composer_placeholder = get_random_composer_placeholder()
+        except Exception:
+            self._composer_placeholder = ""
         # Armed when a bare `/resume` prints the recent-sessions list so the
         # very next bare numeric input (e.g. `3`) resolves to that session.
         # Holds the exact list used for index resolution; one-shot (cleared on
@@ -18801,7 +18808,11 @@ class HermesCLI(CLIAgentSetupMixin, CLICommandsMixin, CLIBillingMixin):
                 _stash_hint = ""
             if _stash_hint:
                 return _stash_hint
-            return ""
+            # Idle + empty composer: show a rotating task-oriented example to
+            # nudge the user toward a high-value first action (C-09). Chosen
+            # once per session (self._composer_placeholder) so it stays stable
+            # while being read, not flickering every render.
+            return getattr(cli_ref, "_composer_placeholder", "") or ""
 
         input_area.control.input_processors.append(_PlaceholderProcessor(_get_placeholder))
 
diff --git a/hermes_cli/tips.py b/hermes_cli/tips.py
index 1729444fd4..b2c8a041ab 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/tips.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/tips.py
@@ -483,3 +483,30 @@ def get_random_tip(exclude_recent: int = 0) -> str:
             deduplication across sessions.
     """
     return random.choice(TIPS)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Composer placeholders — short, task-oriented example prompts shown in the
+# empty input box to nudge new users toward high-value first actions (C-09,
+# inspired by opencode/codex rotating placeholders). Kept generic so they fit
+# any project or none — Hermes is not a coding-only agent.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDERS = [
+    "Ask anything, or type / for commands…",
+    "Summarize what's in this folder",
+    "Draft a reply to the last email in my inbox",
+    "Plan a feature, then build it step by step",
+    "Find and fix a failing test",
+    "Research this topic and write me a brief",
+    "What changed in this repo recently?",
+    "Turn these notes into a to-do list",
+    "Explain this error and how to fix it",
+    "Set a reminder or schedule a recurring task",
+    "Type / to browse commands, or Ctrl+P for the palette",
+]
+
+
+def get_random_composer_placeholder() -> str:
+    """Return a rotating task-oriented placeholder for the empty composer."""
+    return random.choice(COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDERS)
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_composer_placeholder.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_composer_placeholder.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d2d62a3c8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_composer_placeholder.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+"""Test for rotating task-oriented composer placeholders (C-09)."""
+
+from hermes_cli.tips import COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDERS, get_random_composer_placeholder
+
+
+def test_composer_placeholders_nonempty():
+    assert COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDERS
+    assert all(isinstance(p, str) and p.strip() for p in COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDERS)
+
+
+def test_get_random_composer_placeholder_returns_a_member():
+    for _ in range(20):
+        assert get_random_composer_placeholder() in COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDERS